Ratan-straightening machine.



c. M. MOORE. BATAN STBAIGHTENING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION IILED AUG. 18,1908.

Patented Apr. 20,1909.

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WITNESSES G. M. MOORE. BATAN STBAIGHTENING MACHINE.

91 APPLICATION FILED AUG. 18,1908. Patented Apr. 20

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A TTORNE Y 6 G. M; MOORE. v RATAN STRAIGHTENING MACHINE.

91 9,202. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 18,1908. Patented Apr'vgo Y 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES P;IENT OFFICE.

CLARENCE M. MOORE, OF MITTINEAGUE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO lNDEPENDENT WHIP COMPANY, OF WESTFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION.

RATAN-STRAIGHTENING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 20, 1909.

Application filed August 18, 1908. Serial No. 449,022.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE M. Moons, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Mittineague, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful RatanStraightening Machine, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in machines designed to straighten lengths of ratan, and consists essentially of rotary bendcrs arranged in groups or gangs which are placed at right-angles to each other, there being two sets of said benders in each gang arranged so that the orbits of the peripheral extremities of the benders in adjacent sets intersect, a varying Zigzag course between said sets for the ratan being thus provided and maintained, together with suitable guides, delivery mechanism, and the necessar actuating mechanism, all as hereinafter set rorth.

The objects of my invention are, first, to produce a machine which will expeditiously, economically, and efficiently straighten ratan, such as is employed in the manufacture of whips and for other purposes, the work being done mechanically or automatically by such machine; second, to provide such a machine with straightening means or mechanism which is self-feeding, that is, which actuates the ratan forward while acting to straighten it, and, third, to afford means for so gripping the ratan as to deflect it in four directions with great frequency. It should be stated in this connection that the straightening mechanism incidentally breaks out any decayed parts that may be in the ratan during its passage through the machine. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Wnich Figures 1 and 1' taken together make up a side elevation of a practical form of a machine which embodics my invention, all of the essential parts being present Figs. 2 and 2* together constitute a plan view of the same; Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the working end of one of the benders, all excepting one of the four adjustable blocks being omitted therefrom, and, Fig. 4., a sectional view of the members shown in the preceding view.

Similar figures refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The machine shown in the drawings comprises four sections, exclusive of the delivery mechanism, but this number may vary, since two sections might be used alone or more than four might be used in any event, however, adjoining sections will be arranged at right-anglcs to each other and an even number of sections thus arranged will be employed.

One of the most essential elements in this 5 machine is what is herein termed a bender. There are twenty-four of these benders, in' the present case, arranged in four gangs of six in each gang, but these numbers may vary in different machines. In general the benders are like cog-wheels having coarse teeth, although the teeth on one never contact or mesh with those on another, there always being enough space between the teeth of adjacent benders for the passage of the material to be straightened, hence one bender does not drive and is not driven by any other bender through the medium of such teeth. Each bender consists of a spindle 1 having a head or hub 2 at one end from which four arms 3 radiate like the spokes of a wheel, there being regular intervals between such arms, and four blocks 4 adjustably mounted on such arms. The spindle 1, hub 2, and arms 3 form a carrier for the blocks 4. Each arm 3 has a longitudinal slot 5 therein at the inner end of which is a lug 6 that projects beyond the face of said arm. Each block 4 has a groove 7 in its outer end for the ratan, and abutments 88 at the sides which are also designed for contact with the ratan. Each of said blocks is mounted on the face of one of the arms 3, and is provided with lateral flanges or lips 9-9 between which the arm is re ceived and by means of which the block is guided in its adjustment and held against sidewise movement.

' As a means of adjustment for each block 4, I provide a bolt 10 which istapped into the'corrcsponding lug 6 and extends outward from such lug to afford an abutment or bearing point for the inner end of said block, and a bolt 11 which extends through the corresponding slot 5 and the block to receive a nut 12. The position of the bolt 10 determines the amount of projection beyond the outer end of its arm 8 of the block 4 which is mounted on said arm, and the bolt 11 and nut 12 serve to retain such block in place Mai against said bolt 10 when said nut is screwed tight against the face of said block. Thus it will be seen that, by loosening the nut 12 and screwing the bolt 10 in or out, the block can be positioned nearer to or farther away from the center of the hub 2 accordingly, after which said nut is again tightened. This or some other equally good means of adjust ment for the benders is necessary if the machine is to handle more than one size of ratan. When two of these benders are arranged to revolve in opposite directions with their blocks cutting across a median line between their axes, a length of ratan or similar material thrust between them will be fed forward and bent in opposite directions alternately by the grooved ends 7 and the abutments 8, the bends varying as the relative positions of the blocks on the two carriers change. By arranging two pairs of benders in the manner just described and further arranging so that when a block ft on one side of the aforesaid median line cuts across such line, a block 4 of the bender diagonally opposite that of wl'iich the first-mentioned block forms a part shall cut across said line from the other side, and more especially if a guide 13 be situated at the central point between the four aXes of the benders, the deflections imparted to the ratan will be more diversified. Any four adjacent benders in the drawings clearly show said arrangement and fully disclose what is meant by the foregoing. By arranging the benders so that the blocks of each in their travel intersect the orbits of those of all of the immediately adjacent benders, as is done here, more frecuent bends in a given length of material are 0 -tained and economy in space is secured. Some change may be made in the present grouping, but not, it is believed, to any particular advantage.

Benders having more or less than four arms and four blocks can be used, provided they be constructed and arranged so as to interwork in the manner substantially as explained.

Having described the benders, both generally and specifically, I will next proceed to explain the other parts of the macl inc and how the benders, which are all alike in this instance, are incorporated in said machine.

A suitable frame 14 is provided, and supported by this frame at the front end is a horizontal bed-plate 15, supported by said frame behind said plate is a vertical bedplate 16, supported back of said vertical plate is a second horizontal bed-plate 17, and back of the latter at the rear end of the frame is a second vertical bed-plate 18. Each of these bed-plates has bearings therein for six of the bender spindles 1, the spindles being arranged in two rows or sets of three each. Each gang of benders is made up and arthe relationship of the gangs to each other is such that a median line between the axes of all of the pairs of bender-s is straight, al-' though it is conceivable that the benders might be so mounted that such line would be undulating. It is first to one side and then the other of this median line that the ratan is deflected in its course or from a direct course between the two sets of benders in each gang. Tight on the bottom terminal of each vertical spindle 1 and the rear terminal of each horizontal spindle 1 is a gear 19. There are two guides 13 fastened on the top of each of the bed-plates 15 and 17 and on the face of each of the bed-plates 16 and 18, one such guide being located at the central point between each quartet of bender axes, which brings all of said guides into the said median line. Each guide consists merely of a triangular piece which is provided with two sides or cars that converge in the direction of the moving ratan which passes between such cars.

The median line hereinbefore referred to several times is an imaginary line situated a little above the bed-plates 15 and 17 and the same distance from the faces of the bed-plates 16 and 18, and connects the lines 2020, in Figs. 1 and 1 and 2 and 2. This line denotes the mean course of the ratan through the machine.

A tubular, bell-mouthed guide 21 is supported by bracket 22 on the bed-plate 15 at the front end thereof to receive the ratan when it is introduced into the machine, and four guides 23 are attached respectively to the bed-plate 15 at the rear end, to the bedplate 17 at the front end and at the rear end, and to the bed-plate 18 near the rear end. All of these guides, as well as the guides 13, are in the median line. The guides 23 have wide mouths opening in the direction from which the ratan approaches so as not to fail to receive the same when delivered from one gang of benders and properly direct it to the next gang and finally to the mechanism which conveys it away from the straightening mechanism, said guides being located between adjacent gangs and between the last gang and the delivery mechanism.

The delivery mechanism comprises a driven roll 24 below and an idler 25 above, behind the last guide 23. The roll 24 is tight on one end of a horizontal shaft 26 which is journaled in the bed-olate 18 and has a gear 27 tight on the opposite end. The idler 25 is mounted in the fork at the lower end of a vertical spindle 28 supported by a bracket 29 which projects from the face of the bed-plate 18. A spring 30 encircles the spindle 28 between its fork and the bracket 29 above to tension the idler 26 toward the roll 24 and cause said idler to bear forcibly on the ratan which passes between the roranged just as has been set forth above, and I tary members. On the upper terminal of the spindle 28, above the bracket 29, are a nut 31 and set-nut 32 to regulate the amount of drop that is permitted the idler, or to determine the normal or minimum amount of space between said idler and its companion roll. The device is adjusted by means of the nuts 31 and 32 to act upon the smallest ratan in diameter which is to be actuated thereby. The spring 30 permits the spindle 28 and the idler to yield upwardly to accommodate the ratan as it presents itself, so there is no liability of failure to work properly on the part of said device, and the device is adaptable to any size of ratan which the machine is capable of handling.

The gears 19 in each gang are formed into a train by means of four intermediate gears 33, each of which meshes with two of the gears 19 and with one of the other gears 33. \Vith this system of gearing I am able to drive from one point all of the benders in a gang and to rotate said benders in the di rections indicated by the arrows associated therewith, which latter is necessary in order to feed and straighten the ratan in the way hat I do, it being assumed, of course, that the initial drive or the drive at said point, which is the starting point for the train, is in the right direction.

The driving mechanism for the trains of gears belonging to the several gangs of binders and for the delivery gear 27 will now be described briefly.

Suitably journaled in the frame 14, crosswise of the same and under the bed-plate 16, is a horizontal shaft 34 which carries a pinion 35, and tight and loose pulleys 36 and 37, respectively. The pulleys 36 and 37 are for the belt (not shown) which transmits power to the machine from a main or counter shaft.

In front of the shaft 34 is a shaft 38 parallel therewith and similarly journaled in the frame 14. The shaft 33 carries a gear 39 which meshes with the pinion 35, and a pinion 40. In front of and above the horizontal plane of the shaft 38 is a suitably journaled shaft 41 which carries a gear 42 to mesh with the pinion 40, a sprocket-wheel 43, and a combination spur and miter gear 44. Carried by a vertical stud 45 mountedin the frame 14 over the shaft 41 is a combination spur and miter gear 46 the beveled portion of which meshes with the beveled portion of the gear 44. The gear 46 drives the train of gears on the bottom of the bed-plate 15 through the medium of an intermediate gear 47 which meshes with the spur part of said gear 46 and with theadiacent gearlQ of said train, and the gear 44 drives the train of gears on the back side of the bed-plate 16 through the medium of an intermediate gear 48 which meshes with the spur part of said gear 44 and with the adjacent gear 13 of said last-mentioned train. The shaft 41 and stud 45, the sprocket-wheel 43, and the gears 44, 46, 47 and 48 are all du licated back of the first set and operate in the same way as said set to drive the train of gears on the bottom of the bed-plate 17 and the train on the back side of the bed-plate 18, power being transmitted from the first to the second set by means of a sprocket-chain 49 which connects the two sprocket-wheels 43. The gear 27, at the rear end of the machine, is revolved through the medium of a train of intermediate gears and pinions comprising a gear 50 which meshes with the upper rear gear 19 on the back of the bed-1p ate 18, a pinion 51 which meshes with sait gear 50, a gear 52 on the same stud with said pinion, a pinion 53 which meshes with said gear 52, a gear 54 on the same stud with said pinion 53, and a gear 55 which. meshes with said gear 54 and with said gear 27.

- All intermediate gears and pinions are mounted in the usual manner on studs set into the bed-plates.

The arrows associated with the several rotary members of the driving mechanism indicate the directions of rotation of such members.

Although the operation of the machine will be very Well understood from the foregoing, a recapitulation setting forth the coinplete operation follows so as to avoid any possible ambiguity. While the machine is running, driven from and by the pulley 36, one length of ratan after another can be fed to the machine and passed through the same in quick succession, being gripped and bent between the grooved parts 7 and the abutments 8 of the blocks 4. The ratan is intro duced through the guide 21 andfed to the first pair of interworking benders which pass it on through the first guide 13 to the second pair of interworking benders, then'it is actuated through the second guide 13 into the grasp of the third pair of interworking benders. The ratan new passes from the first gang of benders through the first guide 23 to the second gang of benders, next from the second gang through the second guide 23 to the third gang, then from the third gang through the third guide 23 to. the fourth gang, and finally through the fourth guide 23 to the delivery roll 24 and the coacting idler 25 which projectit from the machine. During its passage the ratan has been variably deflected in opposite directions on a horizontal plane a considerable number of times, and variably deflected in opposite directions in a vertical plane the same number of times, the vertical deflections alternating the horizontal deflections as the different bed-plates are passed, so that all natural bends and curves in the rat-an are taken out and the ratan is delivered at the back end of the machine in a straight condition. The benders break out and cast. aside .ordr'o any yor tions of the ratan which may e un uly weakened by decay, Without interfering in any way with the action of the machine or with the passage of the sound portions of said ratan. The grooved parts 7 of the blocks 4 constitute the means chiefly relied upon always to support the ratan at a uniform distance from the bedplates, or in one or the other of the two planes at the intersection of which the median line of the course of the ratan is found.

Changes in size and shape, and in minor details of construction such as will readily occur to one skilled in the art, in addition to the modifications already noted, may be made without departing from the nature of my invention.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a ratan straightening machine, posi tive means both to feed ratan to the machine and to deflect it from a straight course in its passage through the machine, the same means serving both purposes without the aid of the ratan being fed and deflected.

2. In a ratan straightening machine, positive means both to feed ratan to the machine and to deflect it from a straight course in its passage through the machine, the ratan-engaging portions of such deflecting means constantly varying in degree of projection across the path which the ratan follows in advancing thereto.

3. In a ratan straightening machine, positive means both to feed ratan to the machine and to deflect it from a straight course in its passage through the machine in opposite directions in two different planes, the ratanengaging portions of such deflecting means constantly varying in degree of projection across the path which the ratan follows in advancing thereto.

4. A bender, for a ratan straightening machine, comprising a rotary head having a plurality of radial arms extending outwardly therefrom, and blocks carried by said arms, such blocks having grooves in their outer edges and being provided with abutments adjacent to such grooves, the grooved parts of said blocks being adapted to receive and act on the ratan and said abutments being adapted to act also on the ratan.

5. A bender, for a ratan straightening machine, comprising a rotary head having a plurality of radial arms extending outwardly therefrom, and blocks adjustably mounted on said arms, such blocks having grooves in their outer edges and being provided with abutments adjacent to such grooves, the grooved parts of said blocks being adapted to receive and act on the ratan and said abutments being adapted to act also on the ratan.

6. In a ratan straightening machine, a pair of revoluble benders, each consisting in part of radial members which interwork with the corresponding members of its companion,

adapted to feed ratan and to bend it in opposite directions.

7. In a ratan straightening machine, a pair of revoluble benders provided with grooved members having abutments adapted to grasp and bend ratan in opposite directions, the grooved members of any one of such benders interworking with the grooved members of some other of such benders.

8. In a ratan straightening machine, two pairs of interworhing revoluble benders adapted to feed ratan and to bend it in opposite directions, and so arranged that the greatest bends which the two pairs will make in the ratan are on opposite sides of a line in the direction of the course of said ratan but straight and central to the axes of the bend- A ers on both sides thereof.

9. In a ratan straightening machine, a gang of benders arranged in two sets which revolvein opposite directions and are adapted to feed ratan and to bend it in opposite directions, such benders consisting in part of radial members, and the arrangement being such that the radial members of a bender in one set interwork with the radial members of a bender in the other set.

10. In a ratan straightening machine, a gang of revoluble benders comprising pairs arranged transversely and series arranged longitudinally of the path of the ratan, and having radial members, such benders being so positioned that the radial members of one bender intersect the orbits of the radial members of all other adjacent benders which are in the same diametral planes either longitudinally or transversely of said path of the ratan.

11. The combination, in a ratan straightening machine, of a gang of benders arranged in two sets which revolve in opposite directions and are adapted to feed and bend ratan, such benders consisting in part of radial members, and the arrangement being such that the radial members of a bender in one set interwork with the radial members of a bender in the other set, and a second gang of similar benders similarly arranged and revolved in interworking relation, said second gang being at right-angles to said first gang.

12. The combination, in a ratan straightening machine, of a plurality of gangs of benders positioned alternately at right-angles to each other, the benders in each gang being arranged in two sets which revolve in opposite directions and said benders consisting in part of radial members, the arrangement being such that the radial members of a bender in any set interwork with the corresponding members of a bender in the other set in the same gang.

13. The combination, in a ratan straightening machine, of two or more bed-plates positioned alternately at right-angles to each other, gangs of interworking benders carried by said bed-plates, the benders in each of l sets in the opposite direction to those in the such gangs being arranged in two sets, and associated set and to actuate said delivery positive means, independent of the ratan mechanism.

acted on by the benders to revolve the benders in each of such sets in the opposite directlon to those in the associated set.

A 14. The combination, in a ratan straight- I ening machine, of two or more bed-plates positioned alternately at right-angles to each other, gangs of interworking benders carried by said bed-plates, the benders in each of such gangs being arranged in two sets, positive means, independent of the ratan acted on by the benders to revolve the benders in each of said sets in the opposite direction to those in the associated set, and suitable guides mounted on the bed-plates to direct the ratan in its course from one pair of benders to the next.

15. The combination, in a ratan straightening machine, of two or more bed-plates positioned alternately at right-angles to each other, gangs of interworking benders carried by said bed-plates, the benders in each of such gangs being arranged in two sets, positive means, independent of the ratan acted on by the benders to revolve the benders in each of said sets in the opposite direction to those in the associated set, and a suitable guide mounted between adjacent gangs of benders, on a bed-plate, to direct the ratan from one of such gangs to the other.

16. The combination, in a ratan straightening machine, of two or more bed-plates positioned alternately at right-angles to each other, gangs of interworking benders carried by said bed-plates, the benders in each of such gangs being arranged in two sets, posi tive means, independent oi the ratan acted on by the benders to revolve the benders in each of such sets in the opposite direction to those in the associated set, suitable guides mounted on the bed-plates to direct the ratan in its course from one pair of benders to the other, and a suitable guide mounted between adjacent gangs of benders, on a bed-plate, to direct said ratan from one of such gangs to the other.

17. The combination, in a ratan straightening machine, of two or more bed-plates positioned alternately at right-angles to each other, gangs of interworking benders carried by said bed-plates, the benders in each of such gangs being arranged in two sets, delivery mechanism suitably mounted behind the last air of benders, and positive means, independent of the ratan acted on by the benders to revolve the benders in each of said 18. The combination, in a ratan straightening machine, of two or more bed-plates positioned alternately at right-angles to each other, gangs o1 interworking benders carried by said bed-plates, the benders in each of such gangs being arranged in two sets, a delivery roll and idler suitably mounted behind the last pair of benders, means to tension such idler toward such roll, and positive means, independent of the ratan acted on by the benders to revolve the benders in,each

of said sets in the opposite direction to those in the associated set and to revolve said delivery roll in the proper direction.

19. The combination, in a ratan straightening machine, of two or more bed-plates positioned alternately at right-angles to each other, gangs of interworking benders carried by said bed-plates, the benders in each of such gangs being arranged in two sets, delivery mechanism suitably mounted behind the last pair of benders, a suitable guide between said last pair of benders and said delivery mechanism, and positive means, independent of the ratan acted on by the bend ers to revolve the benders in each of said sets in the opposite direction to those in the associated set and to actuate the delivery mechanism.

20. The combination, in a ratan straightening machine, of two or more bed-plates positioned alternately at right-angles to each other, gangs of interworking benders carried by said bed-plates, the benders in each of such gangs being arranged in two sets, delivery mechanism mounted behind the last pair of benders, a receiving guide at the front of the machine, suitable guides mounted on the bed-plates to-direct the ratan in its course from one pair of benders to the next, suitable guides mounted on the bedplates between the gangs of benders and between said last pair and said delivery mechanism to direct said ratan from one gang to the next and from the last gang to the delivery mechanism, and positive means, independent of the ratan acted on by the benders to revolve the benders in each of said sets in the opposite direction to those in the associated set and to actuate the delivery mech- F. A. CUTTER, A. C. FAIRBANKS. 

